DMW: 1st batch of repatriates from M. East to arrive home June 24

DMW Building. (File Photo: Department of Migrant Workers/Facebook)

By Marita Moaje, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Philippine government has stepped up efforts to repatriate overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and other overseas Filipinos affected by the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran in the Middle East, with the first batch of repatriates set to arrive home on Tuesday.

In a virtual press briefing on Sunday, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, together with Philippine Ambassador to Jordan Wilfredo Santos, and the teams of the Philippine Embassy and Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Amman briefed the media on the efforts by the Philippine government to bring home safely affected Filipinos in the region.

“Rest assured, we will bring them home safely as directed by the President, and I’ll be coming home with the group of 26 from Israel,” he said.

Cacdac flew to Amman over the weekend to lead onsite operations and personally oversee the care of affected Filipinos.

“There will be an added small group of OFWs, about three of them from Jordan, and there will be one from the West Bank, so that brings to the total of 30 who will be joining the commercial flight, the repatriation flight tomorrow for Manila,” he added.

The group was the first batch of Filipinos to avail of the government’s voluntary repatriation program, crossing into Jordan via the King Hussein Bridge.

Cacdac said he personally welcomed the group upon their arrival in Jordan on Sunday, together with Santos and the MWO personnel.

He added the Philippine government immediately distributed basic necessities to the OFWs together with corresponding assistance.

“The Philippine Embassy and Migrant Workers Office teams here in Jordan assisted them in processing their documentation out of the King Hussein facility after they were assisted in the processing on the Israeli side in Allenby. And right now, they are all safely in their hotel accommodation in Amman,” Cacdac said.

He shared that many of the OFWs who availed of the Philippine government’s voluntary repatriation program were long-standing OFWs, with some working in Israel for about 10 to 15 years.

However, they opted to return home out of fear due to the escalating tension in the region.

“All of them were in good spirits and grateful to be safe. They immediately received financial assistance and the full support of our government,” Cacdac said.

As of Sunday, a total of 223 formal repatriation requests from OFWs in Israel have been received by the government.

Officials expect the number to increase following recent missile attacks between Israel and Iran.

Cacdac said at least 33 OFWs are now ready for the second wave of evacuation.

Meanwhile, Cacdac said four government shelters remain available in Israel, with 53 OFWs currently staying in two active facilities, while two others are on standby.

The government is also providing food, shelter, and medical monitoring for those who opt to remain in-country.

The repatriation operation is part of a coordinated One Country Team Approach, involving the Philippine Embassies in Amman and Tel Aviv, the DMW, and MWOs in Israel and Jordan, in close cooperation with Jordanian and Israeli authorities.

“We are deeply thankful to His Majesty King Abdullah II and the Government of Jordan for their continued support and facilitation of safe transit for our nationals,” Santos said.

Upon arrival in the Philippines, repatriated OFWs will each receive a PHP150,000 financial assistance package, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) training vouchers, medical check-ups, psychosocial support, and access to livelihood and reintegration programs from the DMW and its partner agencies.

Cacdac said what the government is doing is not just a repatriation but a full reintegration support effort, as the government wants OFWs to return safely and rebuild their lives with dignity.

Additional agencies involved include the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), TESDA, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Tourism, providing a whole-of-government response to help returning OFWs reintegrate through business, job placement, or retraining.

On Friday, Alert Level 3 (voluntary repatriation) has been raised in Israel and Iran.

Filipinos in Israel and other affected countries in the Middle East may contact the following numbers in case of emergency: DMW-Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Hotline 1348; Philippine Embassy in Tehran Hotline: +98 912 213 6801; or send an email to tehran.pe@dfa.gov.ph

“We will not stop until every Filipino who wishes to return home is brought back safely. This is the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and this is our commitment,” Cacdac said.